Dr James Williams
| Post: | Emeritus Reader in Science Education and Communication (Education) |
| Location: | ESSEX HOUSE EH 119 |
| Email: | James.Williams@sussex.ac.uk |
| Personal homepage: | 153595 |
Telephone numbers | |
| Internal: | 7132 |
| UK: | 01273 877132 |
| International: | +44 1273 877132 |
Biography
Senior Lecturer in Science Education
Biography
I graduated in Geology from the University of London and trained as a science teacher at Chelsea College, Centre for Science and Maths Education, University of London. I taught science in North London (Enfield), South London (Croydon) and Surrey. I have worked as a head of biology, head of year and head of science.
I entered teacher education in 1997.
In 2006 I filmed a six-part TV history/reality series for Channel 4 called 'That'll teach 'em taking the role of the deputy head and housemaster in the fictional Charles Darwin school teaching 30 teenagers 1950s style.
I was awarded Chartered Science Teacher status in September 2008.
My PhD looked at the development and inclusion of the Nature of Science in the UK National Curriculum for science from 1988 - 2010.
BSc (Goldsmiths' College, University of London)
PGCE (Chelsea College, University of London)
MEd (King's College, University of London)
PhD (University of Sussex)
CSciTeach (Chartered Science Teacher)
FRSB (Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology)
FLS (Fellow of the Linnean Society of London)
I am a non-active, but elected fellow of:
The Geological Society of London (FGS)
Member Association for Science Education (ASE)
Member of the Society of Authors
Researcher ID Number: C-8252-2009
Professional Activities
- Chair of the Publications Specialist Group (ASE)
- Member of the Editorial Board - School Science Review
- Co-author of the best selling key stage 3 science programme for 11 - 14 year olds, Hodder Science
Community and Business
Articles at 'The Conversation: UK'
It’s time to rethink teacher training The Conversation: UK 7th December 2016
Why urban myths about education are so persistent – and how to tackle them The Conversation: UK 8th September 2016
An obituary: farewell to your Local Education Authority The Conversation: UK 17th March 2016
How to get teenagers to revise for exams during the holidays The Conversation: UK December 27th 2014
Today’s 13-year-olds are not as bad as we’re led to believe The Conversation: UK 24th November 2014
Conservatives’ crack team of superteachers will need the patience of Gandhi The Conversation: UK 16th October 2014
Are we focusing too much on examining practical science? The Conversation: UK 26th April 2014
Redacting exam questions on evolution is a slippery slope The Conversation: UK 11th March 2016
BBC Radio 5 Live Investigates
Investigating Academy Finances: Sunday October 16th 2016
TES Opinion Articles
It’s time to abandon teaching the three sciences TES Opinion by James Williams 23rd November 2016
Why can't we just have community schools, serving the community's children? TES Opinion by James Williams 9th September 2016
Teachers must seize the opportunity to become a true profession TES editorial by James Williams 1st January 2015
Local News and Opinion articles
Who Decides what our pupils are taught?
The Argus 28 January 2017
Love him or hate him, Trump is an intriguing man
The Argus 21 January 2017
Christmas opinion – let’s all celebrate regardless of our religious beliefs
The Argus 24 December 2016
Whose School is it anyway?
The Argus 19 November 2016
Unilever and Tesco spat shows real choice is just an illusion
The recent spat between Unilever and Tesco enlightened a number…
The Argus 20 Oct 2016
A patriotism which does not speak its name to me or for me
AFTER the Conservative Party conference closed what were the…
The Argus 7 Oct 2016
Celebrate Paralympians but don’t forget the issues persist
I’m very disappointed with the world we live in today.
The Argus 19 Sep 2016
Keep children’s brains ticking over during the summer holiday
THE summer doesn’t have to be a break for your child’s brain.
The Argus 1 Aug 2016
We cannot let bean counters destroy our children’s education
The Argus 22 Jul 2016
Cut burden of bureaucracy and free teachers to do their job
The Argus 30 Jun 2016
Family time is important, so let head teachers rule on holidays
The Argus 18 May 2016
Discussion on identity doesn’t mean lifelong lifestyle choices
The Argus 22 Apr 2016
Forget party politics: I’m voting by individual in local elections
The Argus 15 Apr 2016
Death of local authority control of schools cause for concern
The Argus 17 Mar 2016
If all schools were good there would be no need for parents to have to make a choice
The Argus 06/03/16
All schools will become academies (clip begins 1hr 24m)
BBC Radio Sussex 16/03/2016
Death of local authority control of schools cause for concern
The Argus (Print p.10) 17/03/16
Secondary-school lottery (starts 1h 43m)
BBC Sussex 'Breakfast' 30/03/2016
Brighton parents and teachers start campaign against turning all schools into academies
Brighton and Hove News 08/04/2016
Forget party politics: I'm voting by individual in local elections
The Argus 15/04/2016
Discussion on identity doesn’t mean lifelong lifestyle choices
The Argus 22/04/16
Parental influence is essential to the health of our schools
The Argus (print - p.10) 30/04/2016
The key difference between examinations and assessments
The Argus (print - p.10, attached) 04/05/2016
+ BBC Radio Sussex (clip begins at 1hr 20m 30s)
Government uses children as tests for our teachers
The Argus (print - p.10) 07/05/2016
Term time holidays (clip begins at 46m 45s)
BBC Radio Sussex 13/05/2016
+ BBC Radio Surrey (same clip)
Family time is important, so let head teachers rule on holidays
The Argus (18/05/2016)
It's not the name that matters - it's the power of the DFE
The Argus (print - p.10) 11/06/2016
Cut burden of bureaucracy and free teachers to do their job
The Argus 30/06/2016
Welcome to a new era of non-Etonian and Oxbridge politics
The Argus (print - p.10) 12/07/2016
We cannot let bean counters destroy our children’s education
The Argus (22/07/16)
Qualifications
BSc (Goldsmiths' College London) Geology
PGCE (Chelsea College London) Science (Biology)
MEd (King's College London) Science Education
PhD (University of Sussex) Science Education